STUDENT RESOURCES

Student Work

In addition to the Annual Fashion Industries Association Fashion Show and the Design X fashion show, PhilaU fashion design students regularly compete in local and national fashion competitions, collaborate with other programs on campus on real-world design solutions, and frequently show their work at venues in and around Philadelphia.

PlaidmaniaThe Plaidmania: From Royal to Renegade exhibit showcased striking plaid designs by PhilaU fashion design students and alumni. The exhibited explored the traditional use of tartans for identification of Scottish Highlands clansmen to the rebellious juxtaposition of modern pattern and form.

Fashion designstudents design for a variety of customers and across disciplines.

Fashion design and mechanical engineering students collaborated to solve this problem for ILC Dover, an American engineering company that specializes in the design of space suits. With private companies beginning to take an active role in space exploration, ILC Dover posed a challenge: what would a space suit look like for a wealthy space tourist? Working in teams, our students did extensive research in diverse areas such as biomimetics, fine art and celestial formations to make entirely functional but still fashionable space suits.

People from around the world flock to the International Flower Show held annually in Philadelphia. An exciting exhibit of fashion-inspired floral arrangements, "Haute Couture" featured fashion design work from Philadelphia University students alongside coordinating floral arrangements for the 2011 "Springtime in Paris" theme. For this exhibit, the PhilaU work was the inspirational element for the floral arrangements and show designer Sam Lemheney expressed his confidence in the PhilaU student work saying that "These are some of the best fashion students in the country."

To promote women’s heart health, the American Heart Association partners with Philadelphia University to hold an annual competition as part of the Go Red for Women Campaign. This past year's show was held at The National Museum for American Jewish History in Center City Philadelphia and NBC10’s Bill Henley and Lori Wilson, served as the emcees for the evening.

Melissa Ristine ‘14 won first place in 2013. Kirsten Skillman ‘14 won the second-place and Katie Voight ‘14 took the third-place prize at the event. The winning dresses were displayed at the Go Red for Women Luncheon in May and in the Center City Macy's Go Red window for three weeks in July.

Fashion design students from Philadelphia University and other area programs presented designs inspired by the work of influential Italian designer Roberto Capucci, who's colorful and sculptural fashions were the focus of a major Philadelphia Art Museum exhibition.